KEVIN NARRO | Staff Writer
HARLINGEN—Heading into the 2019 season, Harlingen High entered with the expectation to make it back to the playoffs.
At the start, one thing was certain and that was how the team would produce on the offensive side of the ball. The question was on defense, regarding who and when will someone step in and lead the charge.
With the calendar flipped to November, Big Red is clicking on all cylinders and sits at 7-1 overall and 3-0 in district play. While the headlines are mainly about the offense, it is the Cardinal defense that has emerged as one of the stingiest units in the Rio Grande Valley, allowing 21 points per game.
One key member to the defense is junior linebacker Ezvyn Zuniga. Zuniga is in his second year on the varsity and has made quite the combo with fellow linebacker Gabriel Martinez.
Against Los Fresnos in Week 9, Zuniga was all over the field, recording a season-high 17 tackles, including three for a loss.
“From the start of the year, it was real rocky, but that is how it always is,” Zuniga said. “As the season got going, we got going. Off the field, we grew closer and as a junior, we get excited when we see the younger guys step up.”
Zuniga is also gearing up for his second Bird Bowl. Last year, the then-sophomore took the field for his first Bird Bowl and did not disappoint, recording five tackles.
“My entire life I worked to get to where I’m at,” Zuniga said. “My first Bird Bowl I was in eighth grade and seeing the crowd and the players, I knew I wanted to be there. Seeing the environment made me want to be there and I have always played this sport.”